[Federal Register: April 14, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 72)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 19982-19983]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14ap08-11]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2008-0011; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-203-AD;
Amendment 39-15460; AD 2008-08-08]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 757 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
Boeing Model 757 airplanes. This AD requires an inspection to determine
the manufacturer and manufacture date of the oxygen masks in the
passenger service units and the lavatory and attendant box assemblies,
and corrective action if necessary. This AD results from a report that
several passenger masks with broken in-line flow indicators were found
following a mask deployment. We are issuing this AD to prevent the in-
line flow indicators of the passenger oxygen masks from fracturing and
separating, which could inhibit oxygen flow to the masks and
consequently result in exposure of the passengers and cabin attendants
to hypoxia following a depressurization event.
DATES: This AD is effective May 19, 2008.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of May 19,
2008.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://
www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation,
any comments received, and other information. The address for the
Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is the Document Management
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30,
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Hettman, Aerospace Engineer,
Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 917-6457; fax (425) 917-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to include an airworthiness directive (AD) that would apply to
certain Boeing Model 757 airplanes. That NPRM was published in the
Federal Register on January 14, 2008 (73 FR 2195). That NPRM proposed
to require an inspection to determine the manufacturer and manufacture
date of the oxygen masks in the passenger service units and the
lavatory and attendant box assemblies, and corrective action if
necessary.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We considered the comment received. Boeing supports the NPRM.
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received,
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting
the AD as proposed.
Costs of Compliance
There are about 1,035 airplanes of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. This AD affects about 640 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The required actions take about 20 work hours per airplane, for an
average of 240 oxygen masks per airplane, at an average labor rate of
$80 per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the AD
for U.S. operators is $1,024,000, or $1,600 per airplane.
Authority for This Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. ``Subtitle VII: Aviation
Programs,'' describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's
authority.
We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
``Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this
rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order
13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct effect on the States,
on the relationship between the national government and the States, or
on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various
levels of government.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979), and
(3) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
You can find our regulatory evaluation and the estimated costs of
compliance in the AD Docket.
[[Page 19983]]
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
2008-08-08 Boeing: Amendment 39-15460. Docket No. FAA-2008-0011;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-203-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective May 19, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 757-200, -200CB, -200PF, and
-300 series airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified
in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 757-35-0028, dated
April 9, 2007.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a report that several passenger masks
with broken in-line flow indicators were found following a mask
deployment. We are issuing this AD to prevent the in-line flow
indicators of the passenger oxygen masks from fracturing and
separating, which could inhibit oxygen flow to the masks and
consequently result in exposure of the passengers and cabin
attendants to hypoxia following a depressurization event.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Inspection and Corrective/Other Specified Actions if Necessary
(f) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD, do a
general visual inspection to determine the manufacturer and
manufacture date of the oxygen masks in the passenger service units
and the lavatory and attendant box assemblies, and do the applicable
corrective action, by accomplishing all of the applicable actions
specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special
Attention Service Bulletin 757-35-0028, dated April 9, 2007; except
where the service bulletin specifies repairing the oxygen mask
assembly, replace it with a new or modified oxygen mask assembly
having an improved flow indicator. The corrective action and other
specified action must be done before further flight.
Note 1: The service bulletin refers to B/E Aerospace Service
Bulletin 174080-35-01, dated February 6, 2006; and Revision 1, dated
May 1, 2006; as additional sources of service information for
modifying the oxygen mask assembly by replacing the flow indicator
with an improved flow indicator.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(g)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA,
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
(2) To request a different method of compliance or a different
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19.
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local
FSDO.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(h) You must use Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 757-
35-0028, dated April 9, 2007, to do the actions required by this AD,
unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington
98124-2207.
(3) You may review copies of the service information
incorporated by reference at the FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information
on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or
go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_
regulations/ibr_locations.html.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 31, 2008.
Dionne Palermo,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-7297 Filed 4-11-08; 8:45 am]
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